Swimming frog



W. H. ESENWEIN.

SWIMMING FROG.

APPLICATION FILED mm 8. 1920.

' 1,888,518. Patenteol 881 821,

ATTORNEY 'mechanism and associated appear from the detailed WILLI AIME O15 BELLEV'UE, PENNSYLVANTA.

iQWIMMINGr FROG.

and more particularly to what 1 term swimming frog. g

One .of the main objects of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character stated of simple construction and operation which maybe produced at small cost, object is to provide a devlce having simple and efficient means for propelling the same in a lifelike manner. Further objects wlll description. lln the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. 7 v I Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 w th the to section ofthe body or casing removed. l 'g. 3 is acentral longitudinal vertical the operating parts being section through the device,

shown in elevation.

lln constructing the device I provide a sheet metal body 1 which is formed of an upper section 2 and a lower section 3 secured together in any suitable or preferred manner. At the forward portion of lower section 8, and adjacent each side thereof, 1 provide an opening through which pro ects a front leg member 4, these members being connected at their inner ends by a bridge piece 5. As will be understood, this plece 5 and the leg members 4 may be readlly formed by bending from a strip of material of suitable length and width. Bridge piece 5 supports the lower end of a drive shaft 6, rotatably mounted wlthin body 1, the upper end of this drive shaft being mounted through a bracket 7 secured to section 2. A pinion 8 is secured on shaft 6 adjacent to the lower end thereof and meshes with a gear 9 secured to the lower end of a drum 10 loose on winding shaft 11. A spring 12 has one end secured to gear 9 and is wound around drum 10, the other end of this spring being secured to the ratchet-wheel 13 secured on the winding shaft. The winding shaft extends through Specification of Letters Paten t. Application filed June 8, 1920.

A further 1 b Patented (lot. 111, 1921i. Serial No. 387,440.

upper section 2 vided with a key 14 secured thereon. As will be readily understood, by turning shaft 11 the spring is wound, ratchet 13 being held against reverse rotation by a spring pawl 15 secured to one side of body 1. After the spring has been wound upon the drum 10 it will act through gear 9 and pinion 8 to rotate drive shaft 6.

Drive shaft 6 is provided adjacent to its upper end with a crank 16 which is connected by a pitman 17 to a rod 18 which connects the movable elements 19 of the frog. The elements y a bridge piece- 20 and constitute therewith a substantially inverted lJ-shaped member which is formed by bending from a strip of sheet metal of suitable width and length. Each of at 21 to the lower arm 22 of an upper leg member 28 which is secured to body 1.

ember 19 is provided at its lower end with two spaced stop fingers 24 and 25 which are disposed at right angles to each other, finger 24 being in alinement with element 19. A substantial triangularly shaped foot member 26 is pivoted at 27 to the lower end of element 19 between the fingers 24 and 25. Rotation of shaft 6 will serve, through the medium of crank 16 and pitman 17, to reciprocate elements 19. uring upward movement of the forward ends of elements 19 the foot members 26 will swing into substantially vertical position, downward movement of these members being limited by fingers 25. During downward movement of the forward ends ofelements 19, foot members 26 will be held in substantially horizontal position by fingers 24 so as to exert pressure upon the water and cause forward travel of body 1, this operation representing in a general way the movement of a frog when swimming.

at I claim is z- In a swimming toy, a body, a member of substantially inverted U-shape pivotally connected to the body for rocking movement on a horizontal axis, the arms of said member forming legs, means for rocking said ll-shaped member and foot members pivoted to the free ends of the legs and having their upward movement relative to the legs limited.

2. In a toy, a body, upper leg members secured to said bod a member of substanof the casing and is proof the back legs" 19 are connected.

the elements 19 is pivoted- 7 leg members for rocking movement on a horizontal axis, ..t-he.' arms of the U member vided at their forward ends with forwardly projecting abutment elements, foot members pivoted to theforward ends of said lower leg members for movement on a horizontal axis and positioned below said abutment elements, and means for rocking said U- shaped member.

. 3. In a toy, a body, upper leg members securedto said body, a member of substantiallyinverted U-shape supported between the legmembers for'movement on a horizontal axis, the arms of said U member being directed forwardly of the body and forming lower leg members, a rod connected to the U-shaped member above the axis of movement" thereof, and means for reciprocating said rod. p V

in a toy, a body,a member of substantially inverted U-shape secured to the body, thearms of'said member forming fore legs forthe body, hind legs movably connected to the body, a motor, a drive'shaft having one end supported by the bight portion of said U-member, driving connections between said'motor and the shaft,and connections between said shaft and the hind legs for imparting motion to the latter.

5; In aswimmingtoy, a body, a member of" substantially inverted U- shape positionedv in the forward portion of the body and having its'arms extending through the leg members secured to the body at opposite sides of the rearward portion thereof, lower 7 leg members pivoted to said upper members forming lower leg members and being profor rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of the body, foot members connected to said lower leg members, a crank shaft mounted within the body and having its lower end portion supported by thebight portion of said inverted U-shaped member, means for rotating said shaft, and connections between the crank shaft and the lower leg members for rocking the latter about their pivotal axes.

' 6. In a swimming toy, a body, a member of substantially inverted U-shape positioned within the forward portion of the body and having its arms extending through the same to provide forward leg members, upper leg members secured to the opposite sides of the rearward portion of said body, a member of substantially inverted U-shape pivoted between said upper leg members and having its arms projecting downwardly and forwardly therefrom to form lower rear leg members, foot members carried by said lower rear leg members, a crank shaft rotatably mounted within the body and having its lower end portion supported by the bight portion of the forward inverted U-shaped member, means for rotating said shaft, and connections between the crank shaft and the rearward inverted U-shape member for rocking. the same about its pivotal axis.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. ESENWEIN. 

